Bean harvester



Aug, 3, 1943. R, RICO 2,325,879

BEAN HARVESTER Filed Dec. 29, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Rmb/,4R0 Q/Co R. RICO BEAN HARVESTER Aug. 3, 1943.

2 'sheets-sheet 2 Filed Deo. 29, 1941 INVENTOR. /Q/cHA/QQ ,LP/0@ ATTOR/YfK Patented Aug. 3, 1943 zielte@ i z.,s.-z5,879'Y 'j BEAN HARVESTER n Richard* Rico, Byers,l Celex-I Application December 2,9, 194]., Serial No; 221,705 sciame.' (el. 564-155.v i'

This invention're'lates to a bean harvester and has for 'its principal object the provision lof aA two-row implement which will c ut the vines, gather and collect themV into a collecting box and dump the collected Vines at 'regular intervals intopilesfon the eld.

Other objects ofthe invention are to providea two-rowf implement `ofl this character which can be reguiatedfso that one cutter may travel at a higher VVelevation than vthe other should the rows be of uneven elevation;v to provide efficient means for lifting the' cutters-high above the ground ktor' transportation purposes; and to pro- Vide'aA highly efficient and continuously operatlt and extends forwardly and 'rearwardly there! from.Y f y. y f

An angle frame member ljissecured across the rear extremity o f the tongue` stub Il and,y extends eppostely outward therefremterminat-` Y ing in forwardly-projecting'side'frame members i9 which: are bolted or otherwise' secured tto the ktwoirarne pads M. This structureforms an'E- shaped frame thetongue stub forming Ythe middley member thereof. y j Two cutter'bars 213,'as illustrated'in Fig'.r 5; lare4 l mounted on hinge pins 2! one of which extends through each of thefcutter. lugsl, the cutter bars beingprovided with suitable eyes 22 forv ing cutting and gathering mechanism for harleCeVlg the hinge PIlS- EaCh Clltteibal @X5 vesting the vines. tends forwardly and downwardlyfrom the (axle:

'other objects and' advantages reside in 'the `housing terminetnsin e substantiallyhorizontal detail Vcchshuctich 'cf theihvehncn, which isk feet pertien'l. he forward edsie ef the feet designed for simplicity, economy, and'efciency. D OTOYI S. Sedt0 fomutngteeth 24 Which These win 'beccmejmore epperen*u from the fcl- 20 are renfereedibymees 0f e removable notched lowing descriptionl v Cutting plate 255. i l f In the Afollowing detailed description `of the d A. toothed knife member-25 rests uponah' invention reference is had to the accompanying O 23 and temnaten.-fOWadlY Dmjtmg f drawings which ferm' apart hereof. hike nuteeth 27 Whieh resister with the teehnj 11. merels refer tc like parte in au views ofthe 25 feet 23.. The knife member iepvetelly See'ured e drawings 'and throughout lthe description. 0n the foot'by means O'f 2 Suitable. Dil/1? bi- {n'the drawngs;` i Y 2 8v about whichit swings. Each knife member f Fig. lisja plan View of the imnrove'd bean is formed With @lever afm 29 Which. extends harvester; y v through apassageil'in'the cutter bai-.29. The" Fig, 2 is'a side view thereof, with the near 30 rearward extremities 0fY the leVeTS '25" featwheel removed, the'view being taken on the line l tache@ by `meansv of Suitable bau and. Socket 2 2 Fig 1; j joints 3i to apitnian rod 3.2 wnich extends across Fig. 3's ka longitudinal section, taken on the the implement bem/Veen Wehl/010mm? bafsfune 3 3 Figi; Y It will be seen that when the pitman rod ,321

Fig 4 is Cross Sectom taken on the line 35 is `reciprocatedlongitudinaily, fit will cause the." 4 1;k coasting teeth d'and 2l of'both cutterbars to Fig. 5 is' a detail perspective View of the cut- Open and Close S0 s t0 @gert shearing aC'nf 7 tin-g mechanism; and c r The pitman rod isreciprocated by means of 'fa Fig; 5 is a'ragmentary detail view Vci thecon- (Gnnecng rod. extending from a Crank mem trolling Clutch meChanS-m-- Y 40 berll to a. universal 'connection 35 on one eX- The improved bean cutter is supported upon tren-nity ofthe Ditmaal-caa I' Therank mem'. ground engaging wheels i@ and H mounted to ber .Mvsvmtad through thamedium of Suit-l' freely revolve about the extremities of Van axle able" bevfl gears mwen from the axle I l2." l2 which is carried inan axle housing I3. there bemgla 5mt-gime housing 31 Surrounding The axle may be caused to rotate wheneverthese gears andthelr'shats Y v desired through the mediumof a toothed clutch The forward extremltlesfof the 'Cutter Pars. 2g .es which ente fe connect it with the wheel la are Supported by means of Suspepslonfhnksg e 4I. Eachof the depth levers 1s nivo-tally mounted flh wf? fram@ I )f-fsfm on lfs upper 51de ad 50 in .a locking sector @secured on one of thefo'r- Jant 15, e1`Sm1 1S -and with two elltter lugs wardly projecting :frame members It. The lower. l5 en its lower sideimmediately inside 0f the extremities of the suspension links rotatab-lysup- P3418 4- A tnfuepadl 1S also formed 0n the port af cross' sprocket 4sha-ftV 153 which extends axle housingat the middie ofjits upper surface. across the implement .immediately `above the feet' vA :tongue stub Vil issecured on the tongue pad 55 2g 0f Vthe"cutters and which isiournalled in brackets 44 extending from the cutter bars 23. `It will be noted that the elevation of each end of the cross shaft 43 is controlled independently so that one cutter may be elevated or lowered independently of the other cutter.

The cross shaft 43 is provided with elevator sprockets 45 from which two exible elevating chains 46 are trained around the sprockets 45'.

vThe chains dextend rearwardly-and 'upwardly to drive sprockets 41. secured on an upper elevator shaft 48. The upper elevator shaft'is supported on angle postsV 49 which extend upwardly from each extremity of the cross frame member IS. The upper elevator shaft is driven through Y reversing gears 50, contained. Within a gear housing 5I, by means of a drive chain 52 extending from a drive sprocket53 which is secured on the axle l2 to be rotated thereby. l'

Vine Vguards 54 project forwardly and outwardly from the lower extremities of the cutterA vf bars 20. As the vines'are severed by the cutters, they. are gathered onto -the elevated chains 45 bythe guards 54and are elevated to the upper extremities of these chains where they` are Y dropped into a collecting box 55.

.The box`55 is formed with afhingedbottom 55 supported from a. hinge 51 along the forward 'i edge of the box. l The weight of the vines on the bottom 55 is counter-acted by means of a bot- Vtom'lever 58 which. extends forwardly from the s bottom'ralongside the tongue stub i1 Where it rests on'an operators foot rest 59. The foot rest is positioned at a convenient point on the tongue stub `I1 ahead of an operators seat 60 which is supported from thetongue stub on a resilient `seatbarl. 4 v Y The tongue stub is Vjoined to amain tongue 62 by means of side plates 63. The side plates ,63.

are'secured in fixed relation to the main tongue 62 by means of clamp bolts 64 Y andY they are pivotally secured to the tongue l'stub by. means of a pivot bolt Eso that the entire tongue struc- Vture can be broken upwardlyat the plates to elevate the cutter from the ground. .This breakf 'ing 'is accomplished by means of a tongue lever which is 'pivoted in asector bracket 6T xed Y tothe ,forward extremity of thetongue stub in.- Y termediate the vpivot bolt 65 and the clamp bolts G4. VThe lever 66 is formed with a bell crank 68 which extends forwardly to linked attachment with a bracket 69 fixed on the rear extremity v.of Vthe main tongue G2.A When the'lever is fpushed forwardly, it exerts a prying actiornon the linejl as a'fulcrum, and liftsthe forward extremity'of the tongue stub'H so as to lift the cutter above the ground with` the entire'frame tilting downwardly and rearwardly. y

iThe clutch 38 is controlled from a clutch lever 1l mounted inaclutch lever sector 12 on-theY tongue stub I1. The clutchlever 1I is connected to .the Aclutch 38 through thermedium of-a yoke*y rod 13. The lever 1| is positioned within easy reach of the operator beneath the seat 60.'

While a specific Vform of the -improyement has been described andrillustratedherein; it is desired .to be understood that thesame may be varied, within the scope of theappended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

therefrom; teeth on the forward extremities of said cutter bars; a toothed knife member pivoted on top of the forward extremity of each cutter bar with its teeth' in register with the teeth of the latter; a lever arm extending rearward from each knife member; a pitman rod; a universal hinge connecting the rearward extremity of each lever arm to said pitman rod; and means for reciprocating vsaid. pitman rod.

2. A bean harvester comprising: a vehicle axle; ground engaging wheels supporting said 'A axle; a pair of spaced apart cutter bars hingedly Vsupported by said axle and extending forwardly therefrom; teeth on the forward extremities of saidycutter bars; a toothed knife member pivoted jon top of the forward extremity of eachk cutter .barwith its` teeth in register with the teeth of the latter; a lever arm extending rearward from therefrom; teeth' on the'forward extremities of said cutter bars; a toothed knife member pivoted ont'op of the forward extremity, of each cutter bar with the lteeth in register with the teeth of the latter; a lever arm extending rearward from` each knife member; a pitman rod; 'a universal hinge connecting the rearward extremity of each lever arm to said pitman rod; means for reciprocating said pitman rod; a vehicle frame secured on said axle and extending over' said cutter bars fan adjusting lever mounted v.onsaid frame over each cutter bar; and a suspension link extending from each of the latter levers to its respective cutter bar so that the latter are `independently and adjustably supported.

, 4. A bean 'harvester comprising: a ,vehicle axle; ground'A engaging wheels supporting said axle; a pair of spaced apart'cutter bars hingedly supported by said axle and extending forwardly therefrom; teeth on the forward extremities of said'cutter bars; atoothed knife member pivoted ontop of `the forward extremity of each cutter bar with the teeth in register with the teeth of thelatter; alever arm extending rearward from each knife member; a pitman rod; a universal hinge connecting the rearward extremity of each lever arm to said pitman rod; means for reciprocating said pitman rod; a vehicle frame secured on said axle and extending over said cutter bars; anadjusting lever mounted on said frame over ele-ch cutter bar; a suspension link extending from each of the latter levers to its respectiveV cutter bar so that the latter are independently and adjustably supported; and means for tilting said frame'u'pwardlyat the front to lift both cutter .i bars simultaneously.

a vehicle arm to said pitman rod; means for reciprocating said pitman rod; an endless, flexible elevator -device arisingL from each cutter bar rearwardly of the teeth thereof; andmeans forsupporting each elevator device from its respective cutter bar so that itwill rise and fall with the latter.V

6. A bean harvester comprising: a vehicle axle; ground engaging wheels 'supporting said axle; a pair of spaced apart cutter bars hing'edly supported by said axle and extendingV forwardly therefrom; teeth `on the forward extremitiesl of said cutter bars; a-toothed knife member pivoted -k on topof the forward extremity of each cutter v barfwith its teeth inY register with the'teeth of the latter; a lever arm extending rearward from each knife member; a pitman rod; a universal hinge connecting therearward extremity of each lever arm to said Ypitman rod; means for reciprocating said pitman rod; an endless, iexible elevator device arising from each cutter bar rearwardly of the teeth thereof; means for support-` ing each elevator device from its respective cutter bar so that it will rise and fall with the latter;

tive cutter bar to apositi-on behind and `below the latter; a pitman rod; universal joints joining the rearward extremities of said levers to said pitman rodV so that each lever 'may be tilted1indemeans for receiving thev material elevated by said elevator devices; land Vmeans for ldumping said Y material at desired intervals. Y

7. A bean harvester comprising: a vehicle axle; ground engaging rwheels supporting said pendently of the other; means'for reciprocating said pitman rod as a consequence of the rotation of said wheels; 'an endlesschain elevator over each cutter bar; -means forV supporting the upper extremities of both elevators from said frame; andmeans for individually'supporting each ele-Lk vator fromits respective cutterbar so that itwill riseand fall with the latter.

V9.'Inv a bean h-arvester the .combination of a wheel' supported axle; V,an axle housing surrounding said'axle between said wheels; a tongue member secured to the midportionof saidaxlehousing and extending forwardly therefrom; a frame member secured to said housing at each'extrem axle; a pair of spaced fapart cutter bars hingedly supported by said axle and. extending forwardly therefrom; teeth on the'forward extremities of said cutter bars; a toothed knifemember pivoted on top of the forward extremity of each cutter bar with the teeth in register with the teeth vof the latter; a lever arm extending rearward from Y each knife member; a pitman rod; auniversal hinge connecting the rearward extremity of each lever arm to said pitman rod; means for recip.l

rocating said pitrnan rod; a vehicle frame secured on said -axle and extending over said cutter bars;

ity of the latter and extending'forwardly to a supporting connection with said tongue` member; a cutter bar hinged to sai'dhou-sing at each `side ofsaid tongue member, said cutter bars ex-v tending forwardly and downwardly from said housing; means for iaoljustably and independently supporting the forward extremities of said. cutter barsfromsaid frame; a knifemember hinged upon each cutter bar; coacting teethinthe forl ward edgesof said knife members and said cutter an adjusting lever mounted onsaid frame over each cutter bar; a suspension link extending from j rearward extremities of said levers to'said pitman each of the latter levers to its respective cutter bar so that the latter are independently Vand adjustably supported; a tongue stub extending forwardly from said frame; a, tongue hinged to and extending forward from Said tongue stub; and manual means for raising and lowering the hinged point between said tongue stub-and said tongue forsimultaneous vertical 'adjustment of saidgoutter bars. j 1

8. In a bean harvester the combination of a wheel supported axle; an axle housing surrounding said axle between said wheels; a tongue member secured to the midportion of said axle bars; a leverY extending-rearwardly from Aeach knife member through an opening; in `its respective'cutter bar to a position behind and below the latter ;`a'pitman rod; universal joints joining theA rod so that each levermay be tilted-independe ently of the other; means for reciprocating said pitman rod as a consequence of therotationof' said wheels; an endless chain elevator over each Y cutter bar; means-for supportingthe upper ex,-

V tremites of both elevators from4 said `frame; 5 means for individu-ally' supporting 'each elevator,v .from its respective rcutter bar solthat. it willrise. and fall with the latter; a second tongue member Y housing and extending forwardly therefrom; a

frame member secured to said housing at each extremity of lthe latter and extending forwardly to `a supporting connection with said tonguev hinged to the forwardl extremity ofV the first tongue member; and means for raisingA and lowering the joint between the two tongue members v so as topraise and lower bothcutter bars simu1` y3 member; a cutter barhinged to saidhousing at each side of said tongue member, said cutter bars 

